The Firm & Fast Golf Podcast

Gavin Bottrell joins me on this episode to reflect on a twenty year odyssey to perfect the lost craft of Feathery Ball making. Gavin is an engineer by profession and became fascinated with how one might reverse engineer the process of developing a modern day feathery ball. Over the course of a 90 minute chat Gavin shares his learnings from the bottom of a very deep rabbit hole, from where he has p...

Bradley Klein joins us today to take a look at the life and times of one of Dornoch's favourite sons.... none other than Donald Ross. Over the course of our conversation we explore young Donald's early days in the Scottish Highlands and in the East Neuk of Fife under the guidance of OTM. His appointment as keeper of the green and professional at Dornoch GC and the chance visit of a well connected...

Ally McIntosh joins us for another adventure down the rabbit hole of golf course architecture. Over the course of this past winter Ally and his design partner James Coughlan have been busy overseeing the implementation of their Strandhill masterplan. They also commenced phase one of significant improvements to Carne Golf Links. Ally runs us through the specifics of the work at both sited and expla...

Joe McDonnell from McDonnell Cooper joins us to discuss the recent improvements to the 7th hole at Formby Golf Club which has recently reopened for member play. Please click on the link for an instagram video where Joe & Sam give us a sneak peak of the fruits of their labour. You can also check out this link where they detail the issues that the club asked McDonnell & Cooper to address. Jo...

David Normoyle is a respected golf historian who works closely with heritage golf clubs to harness the story telling power of their historical assets. Over the course of our chat, David makes a case for the significance of golf heritage and history - emphasising the need for active conservation of club histories. We look at the distinct difference between tradition and traditionalism, the role of...

Gavin Caldwell joins us on this episode to take a look at the history of golf at Trinity College Dublin. Over the course of this episode we explore the main drivers of the foundation of both the Dublin University Golf Club and later the Society for Alumni that was first established in 1909. We also profile many of the elite amateur golfers who were associated with Trinity through their studies and...

Friend of the pod Richard Pennell returns to chat about his new book Common Grounds. Over the course of the episode we chat about Richard's focus on slightly more rustic golfing adventures throughout the UK, Ireland and farther afield. Common Grounds is published by those lovely people at Grant Books, if you are interested in purchasing the book, please follow the link below: https://pitchmarks.bi...

In this episode I am joined by Royal Adelaide member and all round good egg Terry Thornton, our chat today focuses on his first trip to Ireland for golf during this passed summer which included 22 rounds over 27 days. Over the course of the episode we discuss favourite Irish courses and holes from his recent trip in addition to many other rabbit holes that come our way, Many thanks for tuning in,...

Roderick Ritchie, the current course chairman at Utrechtse Golf Club, joins us today to explore the evolving story of 'de Pan' and what can be learned from the sort of careful and considered custodianship on show at Bosch en Duin. UGC is one of Europe's best golf courses... hidden away amongst a sandy expanse of heather and pine in the Utrechtse Heuvelrug, a nature reserve of some 120 hectares, or...

Stephen Proctor returns to F&F to chat about Matchless, his new book, which charts the rise of formal womens golf from the late 1860's until the 1930's. The title of the book refers to the titanic battle between England's Joyce Wethered and Glenna Collet of the USA in the 36 hole final of the British Ladies Championship of Great Britain in 1929. This Championship was held at St. Andrews where...

Sam Williams from the [Cookie Jar Golf Podcast]( www.cookiejargolf.com ) joins us on this episode to explore how CJG have grown from a crumb trail in 2020 into one of the largest UK golf podcasts. Over the course of an hour or so we take a look back through some highlights, recurring guests, expansions and look forward to what the future might hold for Sam, Tom, Bruce & Cal. It was great to fi...

James Bledge the Links Manager at Royal Liverpool joins us in this episode to talk about his love for links golf, vocational green keeping, RCP @ Deal, Hoylake, drainage & irrigation, technology, STEM and inspiring the next generation . It was great to catch up with him again, we hope you enjoy the episode. Episode music supplied under license from Epidemic Sound Shoreline Serenade - Dye O.1.1...

This is the final instalment focussing on Sir Anthony Babington's reminisences. In this episode he remembers his great friend Harry Shapland Colt. They were first introduced in 1919 by the Secretary of The Royal Dublin Golf Club, Cecil Barcroft. The relationship would prove fruitful for both men over the following decades. Many thanks for tuning in. Episode music supplied under licence from Epidem...

In this episode Sir Anthony shares his memories of the purchase of the the Holyrood Hotel and its transformation into the current clubhouse at Royal Portrush. He also details the R&A's decision to host the 1951 Open Championship at Royal Portrush which was won by Max Faulkner. Many thanks for tuning in. Episode music supplied under licence from Epidemic Sound A Single Dance - Jon Bjork

In this episode Sir Anthony details the modernisation of the Royal Portrush Links under the combined efforts of HS Colt, JSF Morrison, Franks Harris, ABB & Hugh McNeill. Many thanks for tuning in. Episode music supplied under licence from Epidemic Sound A Single Dance - Jon Bjork

In this episode of the continuing series, we learn about Sir Anthony's early golfing days on the North Coast of Portrush. He also covers the consequential matters of extended tenure, security and opportunity that access to additional golfing grounds to the east of the town afforded the wider membership. The thorny history of Sabbatarianism also raises its head through a golfing lense as he teases...

Over the course of the next number of short episodes we wilI take a look at another character that influenced the early development and growth of golf in Ireland. Anthony Babington was a native of Co. Derry, educated at Glenalmond in Perthshire and Trinity College Dublin. Babington was introduced to golf at Lisfannon in Donegal and Royal Portrush. He was a scratch player of some repute, competing...

Chris Breen has been the Superintendent at Rosapenna Golf Resort since 2019. A recent trip to Downings enabled us to sit down for a chat that we've been meaning to have for the past 12 months or so. We take a look at how he's ended up back home in Donegal overseeing the 63 hole, 1200 acre property. The importance of getting "your homework right" from a course setup perspective. How an easterly win...

Thomas Gilroy contributed greatly to the growth of the game of golf in Ireland over the period from 1885 to 1895. During his time in Ireland he was recognised as the best player in the country, holding a handicap between scratch and +6. Gilroy was a founding member at Dollymount, Portrush, Mornington & Baltray. A serial winner and course record setter, he spread the gospel a gift from Scotland...

In celebration of St. Patricks Day it seemed fitting to feature the story of Michael Moran (1886-1918). To this day, Moran, holds the record for the number of wins in the Irish Professional Golfers Championships. That he did this all before turning 27 is all the more remarkable. His story is indelibly linked to that of my home club at Dollymount, I hope you enjoy the story. Thanks for tuning in an...

Mike Morrison joins us on this episode to introduce the upcoming R&A Heritage Conference which will take place in St. Andrews on March 11th & 12th 2025. The event has been organised through the longstanding partnership between the R&A and the British Golf Collectors Society. 'History is not the worship of ashes, but the preservation of the fire' - Philip Truett (Founding Member of BGCS...

Mat Goggin joins us on this episode to chat all things 7 Mile Beach. Listeners will undoubtedly be aware that Mike De Vries and Mike Clayton of CDP Golf Architects have been toiling away on Mr Goggin's behalf over the last few years massaging a sandy waterfront site into one of the most eagerly anticipated golf developments of the past few years. Mat fills us in on the three years that have passed...

Neil Crafter and Dr John Green published the definitive biography of Alex Russell in 2016. Neil joins for this episode to delve into the life and times of arguably Australia's greatest home-grown golf architect. We take a look at the Russell family's Scottish heritage and what prompted their subsequent move to Australia. Alex's education in Geelong, Glenalmond and Cambridge, his service during WW1...

Ryan Noades joins us today to take a look at what may very well be JF Abercromby's design opus. The Addington was of course a collaboration between Abercromby and Harry S Colt, expertly routed to circumnavigate a sand and gravel hilltop heathland site some 9 miles due south of central London. The Noades' have owned the Addington since 2006 and have lovingly curated the course ever since. Over the...

Scotsman Iain Forrester has been a golf professional since 1983, moving to The Netherlands to become the Head Professional at Hoenshuis Golf & Country Club in Limburg. Iain believes that “……a PGA Professional needs to have a diverse skillset – a jack of all trades and a master of one or two. That’s what I’ve tried to do with my career, to be as flexible as possible, learn as many skills as pos...